Indexable Thread Milling Insert with Opposed Rake Faces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thread milling cutting elements wear out quickly, leading to frequent replacements and increased costs, as existing tools lack indexable designs that prolong tool life.
Innovation Solution
A cutting element with an even number of peripheral sub-surfaces, each pair having thread cutting teeth with opposite rake faces, allowing indexable mounting orientations within a thread milling tool body, thereby extending tool life and enabling stable fixation and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a single cutting insert is used in a thread milling tool, then the tool structure is simple, but the tool life is short due to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is divided into multiple peripheral sub-surfaces (at least four) with different functional characteristics. Each sub-surface can have thread cutting teeth with rake faces facing different directions, allowing the cutting element to be indexed to different orientations for prolonged tool life.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting element is designed to be indexable, meaning it can be mounted in at least two different orientations within the tool body. This dynamic reconfiguration allows different pairs of peripheral sub-surfaces to be active depending on the mounting orientation, extending the usable life of the cutting element.
2Productivity
If cutting teeth are arranged on all peripheral surfaces, then productivity is high, but wear occurs uniformly across all surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Different peripheral sub-surfaces are given different local qualities: some have thread cutting teeth with rake faces facing one direction, others have teeth with rake faces facing the opposite direction, and some may have non-cutting surfaces. This local differentiation allows selective indexing to optimize both productivity and tool life.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting element can be indexed periodically to different orientations as wear progresses. By rotating the cutting element to engage different peripheral sub-surfaces, the tool can continue productive operation even after some teeth have worn, effectively distributing the wear across multiple surfaces over time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting element is made with opposite rake faces on peripheral surfaces, then indexable mounting is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element employs asymmetric design in terms of rake face orientations on different peripheral sub-surfaces. While the overall geometry may be symmetric for indexing purposes, the rake faces are deliberately asymmetric (facing opposite directions on different sides) to enable multiple mounting orientations and extend tool life.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~9
AI summary
The present invention relates to an indexable cutting element (1, 30, 60) for a thread milling tool comprising a first and a second main surface (2,3) arranged opposite each other and facing opposite directions, and a peripheral surface (4) connecting the first and the second main surfaces, the peripheral surface comprising an even number of at least four peripheral sub-surfaces (5, 5', 6, 6', 7, 7') that are pairwise arranged on opposite sides of the cutting element and facing opposite directions. For each pair of peripheral sub-surfaces, one sub-surface includes one or more thread cutting teeth (9) having a rake face (15) facing a first direction (S1), and the opposite sub-surface includes a non-cutting surface (18, 19, 31, 32) and/or one or more thread cutting teeth (9) having a rake face (15) facing a second direction (S2), wherein the second direction (S2) is opposite to the first direction (S1).